| Introduction |
|
1 | (4) |
|
|
|
1 | (1) |
|
|
|
2 | (1) |
|
|
|
3 | (1) |
|
|
|
3 | (1) |
|
|
|
3 | (2) |
|
PART 1 GETTING STARTED WITH INVESTING |
|
|
5 | (46) |
|
Chapter 1 Making Sense of Your Investing Options i |
|
|
7 | (12) |
|
Growing Your Money in Ownership Investments |
|
|
7 | (3) |
|
Sharing in corporate growth and profits: Stocks |
|
|
8 | (1) |
|
Profiting from real estate |
|
|
9 | (1) |
|
Succeeding in small business |
|
|
10 | (1) |
|
Making "riskier choices: Options, cryptocurrencies, and so on |
|
|
10 | (1) |
|
Keeping Money in Lending Investments |
|
|
10 | (1) |
|
Understanding Risks and Returns |
|
|
11 | (4) |
|
|
|
11 | (2) |
|
|
|
13 | (1) |
|
|
|
14 | (1) |
|
Where to Invest and Get Advice |
|
|
15 | (4) |
|
Finding the best fund companies and brokers |
|
|
15 | (1) |
|
Finding an acceptable advisor |
|
|
16 | (3) |
|
Chapter 2 Using Investments to Accomplish Your Goals |
|
|
19 | (12) |
|
Setting and Prioritizing Your Shorter-Term Goals |
|
|
19 | (4) |
|
Accumulating a rainy-day fund |
|
|
20 | (1) |
|
Saving for large purchases |
|
|
21 | (1) |
|
Investing for a small business or home |
|
|
21 | (1) |
|
Saving for kids' higher educational costs |
|
|
22 | (1) |
|
Investing short-term money |
|
|
23 | (1) |
|
Investing in Retirement Accounts |
|
|
23 | (6) |
|
Understanding retirement account perks |
|
|
23 | (1) |
|
Grappling with retirement account concerns |
|
|
24 | (1) |
|
Taking advantage of retirement accounts |
|
|
25 | (1) |
|
Surveying retirement account choices |
|
|
26 | (3) |
|
Selecting retirement account investments |
|
|
29 | (1) |
|
Assessing Your Risk-Taking Desires |
|
|
29 | (2) |
|
Chapter 3 Setting Your Return Expectations |
|
|
31 | (8) |
|
Estimating Your Investments' Returns |
|
|
32 | (4) |
|
Money market funds and savings account returns |
|
|
32 | (1) |
|
|
|
33 | (1) |
|
|
|
34 | (1) |
|
|
|
35 | (1) |
|
|
|
36 | (1) |
|
|
|
36 | (3) |
|
The value of getting a few extra percent |
|
|
37 | (1) |
|
|
|
38 | (1) |
|
Chapter 4 Minimizing Your Taxes When Investing |
|
|
39 | (12) |
|
Understanding Investment Taxes |
|
|
40 | (5) |
|
Tracking taxation of investment distributions |
|
|
40 | (1) |
|
Determining your tax bracket |
|
|
41 | (1) |
|
Highlighting the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act bill |
|
|
42 | (2) |
|
Devising tax-reduction strategies |
|
|
44 | (1) |
|
Reducing Your Taxes When Selling Investments |
|
|
45 | (6) |
|
|
|
45 | (1) |
|
Tuning in to tax considerations |
|
|
46 | (5) |
|
PART 2 PREPARING YOUR INVESTING FOUNDATION |
|
|
51 | (40) |
|
Chapter 5 Laying Out Your Financial Plans |
|
|
53 | (14) |
|
First Priorities: Paying Off High-Cost Debt and Building a Safety Reserve |
|
|
54 | (1) |
|
Paying off high-cost consumer debt |
|
|
54 | (2) |
|
Establishing an emergency reserve |
|
|
55 | (1) |
|
What about Paying Down Other Debts? |
|
|
56 | (1) |
|
|
|
56 | (3) |
|
Considering paying down mortgage debt |
|
|
58 | (1) |
|
Sorting Out Your Financial Plans |
|
|
58 | (1) |
|
Considering your investment options and desires |
|
|
59 | (6) |
|
Assessing your savings rate |
|
|
60 | (1) |
|
Investing regularly with dollar cost averaging |
|
|
61 | (1) |
|
Knowing the Impact of Investing for College Costs |
|
|
62 | (1) |
|
|
|
63 | (1) |
|
Considering educational savings account options |
|
|
64 | (1) |
|
Investing money earmarked for college |
|
|
65 | (1) |
|
Securing Proper Insurance |
|
|
65 | (2) |
|
Chapter 6 Starting Out with Bank and Credit Union Accounts |
|
|
67 | (12) |
|
Understanding FDIC Bank Insurance |
|
|
68 | (1) |
|
Investing in Banking Account and Savings Vehicles |
|
|
68 | (3) |
|
Bank checking accounts and debit cards |
|
|
69 | (1) |
|
Savings accounts and certificates of deposit |
|
|
70 | (1) |
|
|
|
71 | (1) |
|
Feeling Secure with Your Bank |
|
|
72 | (3) |
|
|
|
72 | (1) |
|
Protecting yourself when banking online |
|
|
73 | (2) |
|
Exploring Alternatives to Bank Accounts |
|
|
75 | (4) |
|
Credit union accounts and benefits |
|
|
75 | (1) |
|
Brokerage cash management accounts |
|
|
76 | (1) |
|
Money market mutual funds |
|
|
77 | (2) |
|
Chapter 7 Managing Money Market Funds |
|
|
79 | (12) |
|
Defining Money Market Mutual Funds |
|
|
79 | (2) |
|
Making sense of the appeal of money market funds |
|
|
80 | (1) |
|
Understanding the drawback of money market funds |
|
|
81 | (1) |
|
Looking at Money Market Fund Holdings |
|
|
81 | (2) |
|
Protecting and Accessing Your Money in Money Funds |
|
|
83 | (1) |
|
|
|
83 | (1) |
|
|
|
83 | (1) |
|
Using Money Market Funds in Your Investment Plan |
|
|
84 | (2) |
|
Shopping for the Best Money Funds |
|
|
86 | (2) |
|
Discovering traits of leading money funds |
|
|
86 | (1) |
|
|
|
87 | (1) |
|
Alternatives to Money Market Mutual Funds |
|
|
88 | (3) |
|
PART 3 INVESTING IN STOCKS, BONDS, AND FUNDS |
|
|
91 | (62) |
|
Chapter 8 Getting Your Slice of Capitalism with Stocks |
|
|
93 | (16) |
|
|
|
94 | (1) |
|
How (and Why) You Can Make Money with Stocks |
|
|
95 | (2) |
|
Understanding the importance of corporate profits |
|
|
95 | (1) |
|
Making sense of how you profit with stocks |
|
|
96 | (1) |
|
Timing Your Stock Buying and Selling |
|
|
97 | (6) |
|
|
|
97 | (2) |
|
Using price/earnings ratios to value stocks |
|
|
99 | (1) |
|
Avoiding temptations and hype |
|
|
100 | (1) |
|
|
|
101 | (1) |
|
Sidestepping common investing minefields |
|
|
102 | (1) |
|
Highlighting How to Invest in Stocks |
|
|
103 | (5) |
|
Investing in stock mutual funds and exchange-traded funds |
|
|
103 | (1) |
|
|
|
104 | (4) |
|
Maximizing Your Stock Market Returns |
|
|
108 | (1) |
|
Chapter 9 Securing Investment Income and Principal with Bonds |
|
|
109 | (14) |
|
|
|
110 | (4) |
|
Understanding bond issuers |
|
|
110 | (3) |
|
Considering credit (default) risk |
|
|
113 | (1) |
|
Making sense of bond maturities |
|
|
113 | (1) |
|
Using Bonds in a Portfolio |
|
|
114 | (5) |
|
|
|
115 | (1) |
|
Comparing other lending investments with bonds |
|
|
116 | (3) |
|
How and Whereto Invest in Bonds |
|
|
119 | (4) |
|
Choosing between bond funds and individual bonds |
|
|
120 | (1) |
|
Investing in Treasury bonds |
|
|
120 | (1) |
|
Investing in non-Treasury individual bonds |
|
|
121 | (1) |
|
Evaluating individual bonds you currently hold |
|
|
122 | (1) |
|
Chapter 10 Fund Investing: Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds |
|
|
123 | (22) |
|
Understanding the Advantages of Funds |
|
|
124 | (2) |
|
Maximizing Your Chances for Fund Investing Success |
|
|
126 | (5) |
|
Understanding the importance of performance and risk |
|
|
126 | (1) |
|
Examining fund management experience |
|
|
127 | (1) |
|
|
|
127 | (1) |
|
Understanding and using index funds |
|
|
128 | (1) |
|
Understanding exchange-traded funds: Index funds that trade |
|
|
129 | (2) |
|
Creating and Managing a Fund Portfolio |
|
|
131 | (11) |
|
Identifying the Best Mutual Funds and ETFs |
|
|
133 | (1) |
|
Investing in the best ETFs |
|
|
133 | (1) |
|
Picking the best stock funds |
|
|
134 | (2) |
|
Balancing your act: Funds that combine stocks and bonds |
|
|
136 | (1) |
|
Finding the best bond funds |
|
|
137 | (5) |
|
Considering Alternatives to Investing in Funds |
|
|
142 | (3) |
|
|
|
142 | (1) |
|
|
|
142 | (1) |
|
|
|
143 | (1) |
|
Brokerage managed accounts |
|
|
143 | (1) |
|
Hedge funds for the wealthier |
|
|
144 | (1) |
|
Chapter 11 Understanding Investment Brokers |
|
|
145 | (8) |
|
Getting Your Money's Worth: Discount Brokers |
|
|
145 | (4) |
|
Assessing the high-commission salespeople's arguments |
|
|
146 | (1) |
|
Selecting a discount broker |
|
|
147 | (2) |
|
Checking Out Online Brokers |
|
|
149 | (4) |
|
Considering "free" online trades |
|
|
149 | (1) |
|
Examining your online trading motives |
|
|
150 | (1) |
|
Taking other costs into account |
|
|
151 | (1) |
|
Looking at service quality |
|
|
151 | (1) |
|
Listing the best online brokers |
|
|
152 | (1) |
|
PART 4 INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE, SMALL BUSINESS, AND OTHER INVESTMENTS |
|
|
153 | (74) |
|
Chapter 12 Seeking Shelter and Appreciation in Real Estate |
|
|
155 | (20) |
|
Comparing Owning a Home to Renting |
|
|
156 | (4) |
|
Weighing financial considerations |
|
|
156 | (1) |
|
Considering costs and your time frame |
|
|
157 | (1) |
|
|
|
158 | (2) |
|
Figuring Your Home-Buying Budget |
|
|
160 | (3) |
|
Getting your financial house in order |
|
|
160 | (1) |
|
Determining your down payment |
|
|
160 | (1) |
|
Doing lenders' calculations |
|
|
161 | (2) |
|
|
|
163 | (4) |
|
Understanding your housing options |
|
|
164 | (1) |
|
|
|
165 | (1) |
|
Checking out and valuing a home |
|
|
166 | (1) |
|
Investing in Investment Real Estate |
|
|
167 | (8) |
|
Understanding real estate investment's appeal |
|
|
168 | (1) |
|
Sizing up real estate investment options |
|
|
169 | (3) |
|
Conducting real estate investing research |
|
|
172 | (3) |
|
Chapter 13 Financing and Putting Together Real Estate Investment Deals |
|
|
175 | (26) |
|
Financing Your Real Estate Deals |
|
|
175 | (16) |
|
|
|
176 | (3) |
|
Debating fixed-rate versus adjustable-rate mortgages |
|
|
179 | (2) |
|
Deciding between fixed and adjustable mortgages |
|
|
181 | (1) |
|
Finding your best fixed-rate mortgage |
|
|
182 | (1) |
|
Landing an appropriate adjustable-rate mortgage |
|
|
183 | (4) |
|
Understanding other mortgage fees |
|
|
187 | (1) |
|
|
|
187 | (2) |
|
Refinancing for a better deal |
|
|
189 | (2) |
|
Working with Real Estate Agents |
|
|
191 | (3) |
|
Recognizing agent conflicts of interest |
|
|
191 | (1) |
|
|
|
192 | (2) |
|
Putting Your Deal Together |
|
|
194 | (3) |
|
|
|
194 | (1) |
|
|
|
195 | (1) |
|
Shopping for title insurance and escrow services |
|
|
196 | (1) |
|
|
|
197 | (4) |
|
Negotiating real estate agents' contracts |
|
|
197 | (2) |
|
|
|
199 | (2) |
|
Chapter 14 Taking Your Talents to the Small-Business Arena |
|
|
201 | (14) |
|
|
|
202 | (1) |
|
Deciding to Start Your Own Business |
|
|
203 | (1) |
|
|
|
203 | (1) |
|
Entrepreneuring at a company |
|
|
204 | (1) |
|
Turning a Business Idea into Reality |
|
|
204 | (6) |
|
Drawing up your business plan |
|
|
204 | (3) |
|
Plotting to leave your job |
|
|
207 | (1) |
|
|
|
208 | (2) |
|
Considering Small-Business Investment Options |
|
|
210 | (5) |
|
Buying an existing business |
|
|
210 | (1) |
|
Investing in someone else's business |
|
|
211 | (1) |
|
|
|
212 | (1) |
|
Beware the pitfalls of multilevel marketing companies |
|
|
213 | (2) |
|
Chapter 15 Exploring Other Investment Vehicles |
|
|
215 | (12) |
|
|
|
215 | (1) |
|
Considering Gold and Other Precious Metals |
|
|
216 | (2) |
|
Should You Invest in Currencies and Cryptocurrencies? |
|
|
218 | (2) |
|
Contemplating Collectibles |
|
|
220 | (3) |
|
Understanding the allure of collectibles |
|
|
221 | (1) |
|
Seeing the realities of collectibles and their returns |
|
|
221 | (1) |
|
Considering advice on buying collectibles |
|
|
222 | (1) |
|
Understanding Annuities and Cash-Value Life Insurance |
|
|
223 | (4) |
|
Availing yourself of annuities |
|
|
223 | (1) |
|
Considering cash-value life insurance |
|
|
224 | (3) |
|
|
|
227 | (22) |
|
Chapter 16 Ten Things to Know about Investing Resources |
|
|
229 | (8) |
|
Get Educated to Discern the Best from the Rest |
|
|
229 | (1) |
|
|
|
230 | (1) |
|
Understand the Influence of Advertising |
|
|
230 | (1) |
|
Value Quality over Quantity |
|
|
231 | (1) |
|
Know How to Check Out a Resource |
|
|
232 | (1) |
|
Beware Hype and Exaggeration |
|
|
232 | (1) |
|
Don't Assume Quoted Experts Know Their Stuff |
|
|
233 | (1) |
|
Investigate Gurus' Claims |
|
|
233 | (1) |
|
Don't Believe Investment-Newsletter Claims |
|
|
234 | (1) |
|
Check Out and Keep Up with My Favorite Resources |
|
|
234 | (3) |
|
Chapter 17 Ten Essential Tips for Investing Success |
|
|
237 | (6) |
|
Regularly Save and Invest 5 Percent to 10 Percent of Your Income |
|
|
237 | (1) |
|
Understand and Use Your Employee Benefits |
|
|
238 | (1) |
|
Thoroughly Research Before You Invest |
|
|
238 | (1) |
|
Shun Investments with High Commissions and Expenses |
|
|
239 | (1) |
|
Invest the Majority of Your Long-Term Money in Ownership Investments |
|
|
239 | (1) |
|
Avoid Making Emotionally Based Financial Decisions |
|
|
239 | (1) |
|
Make Investing Decisions Based on Your Plans and Needs |
|
|
240 | (1) |
|
Tap Information Sources with High Quality Standards |
|
|
240 | (1) |
|
|
|
241 | (1) |
|
Invest in Yourself and Others |
|
|
241 | (2) |
|
Chapter 18 Ten Things to Know about Investing Apps |
|
|
243 | (6) |
|
Beware of the General Dangers of Putting Apps on Your Cell Phone |
|
|
244 | (1) |
|
Use Apps Only from Proven Companies with Good Reputations and Longevity |
|
|
244 | (1) |
|
Consider the Alternatives to an App |
|
|
245 | (1) |
|
Use the Best Personal Finance Apps to Have More to Invest |
|
|
245 | (1) |
|
Be Skeptical of Investing Apps Offering "Free" Trading |
|
|
246 | (1) |
|
Review Current and Historic Financial and Economic Data |
|
|
246 | (1) |
|
Invest with Leading Fund Providers |
|
|
247 | (1) |
|
Tap into the Best Investment Brokerage Firms |
|
|
247 | (1) |
|
Examine the Best Real Estate Apps |
|
|
247 | (1) |
|
Seek out Good Small-Business Apps |
|
|
247 | (2) |
Bonus
Chapter: Taking Care With Health Insurance |
|
249 | (12) |
| Index |
|
261 | |
